Automatic cut-off.



P. DIXON.

AUTOMATIC CUT-OFF.

APPLICATION FILED n20. 20,1907.

Patented Dec. 7, 1909.

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P. DIXON. AUTOMATIC GUT-OFF.

APPLIOATION FILED DBO. 20,1907.

UNITED sTArES PATENT OFFICE.

PAUL DIXON, OF ATLANTA, GEORGIA.

AUTOMATIC cor-oar.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, PAUL DIXON, a citizen of the United States, residing at- Atlanta, in the county of F ultonand State of Georgia, have invented certain new and useful Improvement in Automatic Cut-Ofi's; and 1 do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appert-ains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in automatic cut-offs for fluid conducting systems.

Broadly, the invention consists in providing regulating means for the cut-off of the system cooperating in such manner that the time of automatic cut-ofi" may be varied within wide limits.

While the invention is not restricted to any particular system, nor to the exact details illustrated and described, still for the purpose of disclosure and for the purpose of simplicity of description reference is had to the accompanying drawings illustrating a practical embodiment of the invention as;

applied to an incandescent electric light.

In the application of the invention to an electric incandescent lamp, as hereindescribed, one of the primary advantages of the invention is that when the light is turned on it will be automatically shut off, even though forgotten by the user, at a predetermined time, the limit of which is notfixed, but for practical purposes may be one minute to three hours. From this, it. will be seen that this particular application of the invention is quite useful in connection with hotel rooms, pantries, bath rooms, and in many other relations.

In the drawings referred to, like numerals designate the same parts in the several views. P

Figure 1 is a view in elevation of the invention applied to a pendent electric incandescent lamp. Fig. 2 is a similar view at right angles to Fig. 1, the bulb of the incandescent light being omitted. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section through the air or cushioning chamber and the hollow plunger. Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view on the line 44 of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a similar view on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is a detail Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed December 20, 1907.

Patented Dec. '7", 1909. Serial No. 407,284.

view looking toward the left in Fig. 7, and showing the application of a key casing or button attached to the socket key of the in candescent lamp, and Fig. 7 is a longitudinal horizontal section through said key casing showing in elevation the socket key and means for securing the key casingrigidly thereto.

1 designates the pendent wires, and 2 the socket member of an electric light fixture,

3 (Fig. 7) showing the usual cut-ofl" 0r socket key of hard rubber. Suitably supported by said fixture is an attachment comprising eontrollcd movable means cooperating with the socket key of the fixture. In the drawings, these means are shown as comprising a cylinder 4: providing an air or compression chamber 5 (Fig. 3), in which chamber is mounted a hollow plunger rod 6, provided at one end with a suitably supported plunger head or piston 7 and at its other end closed, as at 8, but provided with a small discharge orifice 9.

The top of the cylinder 4 may be exteriorly screw-threaded to receive a'cap 10 provided with a central opening through which the plunger may operate, and between this cap 10 and the plunger head 7 is interposed a coil spring 11.

As seen in Fig. 3, the lower end 12 of the plunger rod 6 is open and in communication with the cushioning chamber 5, and the upper end of same is exteriorly screw-threaded to receive the cap 13, which cap is provided with an inserted member 14, preferably of rubber, which member is provided with a small recess or cavity 15 in alinement with the discharge orifice 9, but of preferably larger area. It will be understood, however, that the invention is not. restricted to this particular valve arrangement for controlling the discharge of air from the cushioning chamber.

The cylinder 4 may be provided on its outside with a. longitudinal strap 16 having apertured lateral extensions 17 forming brackets for the support of a longitudinallymovable rod 18 having a laterally-bent forked extension 19 at its upper end adapted to straddle the upper end of the hollow plunger rod 6. Interposed between the cap 13 and the forked arm 19 is a rubber washer 20 on the plunger rod 6 for the purpose of' equalizing the upward pressure of'the rod 18. Above this washer may be disposed a member 21 providing a pointer which cooperates with a scale (not shown) on the top or periphery of the milled cap 13 to 1ndicate the degree of rotary movement of the cap when regulating the time of operation of the device as hereinafter referred to.

Means are provided for connecting the movable rod 18 with the socket key of the lamp, and in the drawings this is shown as comprising a connecting arm 22 pivotally disposed at one end, as at 23, in anaperture in the rod 18, a split pin 24: being provided to retain same in position. At its other end the rod is suitably connected to a detachable member for the socket key. In the drawings this end is shown as pivotally connected to an arm 25 formed on a key casing 26. This key casing preferably consists of a bent member of springy metal in cross section of a shape substantially as shown in Fig. 6. Between the bent ends of this member is left a space 27 to enable the casing to be sprung over the rubber key of the lamp socket. The central bent over portion of the key casing is preferably indented as at 28 (Fig. 7), forming an internal projection adapted to cooperate with the serrated face of a springing wedge 29, which is inserted in the key casing and wedges the casing with the key, as clearly shown.

The cylinder 4 may be rigidly supported on a fixture in any suitable Way, and in the drawings the means employed are shown as comprising an upper member 30 having projecting arms 31 (Figs. 1 and 4) adapted to engage the rubber bushing 32 on the pendent wires. These arms are connected by the bolt 33, and they may be provided with several apertures to provide for'proper adjustment. The lower end of the casing is similarly provided with a supporting member 34, preferably of the shape, as clearly shown in Fig. 5. This lower supporting member is provided with a set screw 35 engaging the cylinder 1, which allows this cylinder, if desired, to be adjusted longitudinally. The lateral arms of the lower supporting member are adapted to engage the nipple 36 of the lamp socket and the projecting ends are transversely connected by an adjusting screw 37. From this lower supporting bracket extends a bent stop 38 provided with a lateral arm 39 disposed in the path of movement of the connecting rod 22, and adapted to limit the movement of the socket. key, so that the same may not in lighting the lamp," and also 1n order that the movement of the key be limited at such a position that it will be returned to its set position shown in Fig. 1 instead of locking the rod 18 in its upper position, which would be the case if the line of thrust of the-connecting rod 22 was on the opposite side of be turned completely around the axis of the socket key. This bent stop 38 may be adjustably secured by' the set screw 40.

In operation, it will be observed that when the key is turned to the right in Fig. 1, the connecting rod 22 will move the rod 18 upwardly, and the forked end 19 engaging beneath the washer 20 will elevate the hollow plunger rod to the position shown in dotted lines, thus compressing the spring 11. This upward movement will continue until the key casing or the rod 22 strikes the stop 38. It will be understood that lamp sockets as shown in the drawings are ordinarily provided with a key that has a certain amount of loose play, so that when the rod 22 strikes against the stop 88, the stop being so positioned with relation to the key, the loose play of the key will allow it to drop back to the position shown in Fig. 1, beyond which position the key must be turned against the action of a snap spring. Therefore, when the key has been turned to raise the hollow plunger rod to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1', upon releasing the key casing the hollow plunger rod will be forced downwardly with a jar,

by the action of the coil spring, and this movement will jolt the rod '18 downwardly, and the rod 18 in its turn, through the connection 22, will turn the loose key around to the set position shown in Fig. 1. The

sudden downward movement of the plunger rod is checked by the cushioning means hereinafter referred to, but the impetus given the rod 18 will carry the key around to the position shown in Fig. 1, with the forked'end 19 of the rod 18 distant from the top of the plunger rod. The descent of the plunger rod is arrested by a fluid cushion (preferably air) formed below the plunger head 7, but the air passing through the hollow plunger rod will pass out of thedischarge orifice 9 into the cavity 15, and will scep out between the face of the rubber insertion 14 and the top 8 and around the threads between the plunger rod and the cap 15. The degree of this discharge can be readily adjusted by loosening the cap 15, or tightening it, and the slightest turn of the ca is found, in actual practice, to retard t e downward movement of the plunger, so that the time of its complete stroke can be regulated within almost. any limit. During the downward movement of the plunger rod, the key casing and key remain stationary in the set position shown in Fig. 1, with the light turned on, but as soon as the washer 20 strikes the forked arm the rod 18 is gradually forced down, still controlled by the compressed air, and as it moves downwardly the ke is turned and finally the light turned 0 During a portion of the predetermined time set for turning off the light, therefore, it will be observed that the 7 key remains stationary, but if it is desired to turn the light off immediately, this may be turned irrespective of the still moving plunger rod. I

Having thus described the invention, what I claim is:

1. The combination with fluid-conducting means and a cut off therefor, of movable means connected to said cut OE and normally stationary when initially set, and automatically controlled means continuously movable when set, said automatically controlled means being set by the movement of said movable means in one direction, and said movable means being operated at a predetermined time by the movement of said automatically controlled means in the opposite direction of movement, substantially as described.

2. The combination with fluid conducting means and a cut-off therefor, of a movable rod, a connecting rod between said movable rod and said cut-off, a cylinder, a plungerf rod operating in said cylinder and engaging said movable rod at a predetermined position in the travel of said plunger rod, means exerting a pressure on said plunger rod in one direction, and means controlling the fluid discharge from said cylinder to retard the movement of said plunger rod, substantially as described.

3. The combination with fluid conducting means and a cut-off therefor, of a movable rod, a connecting rod between said cut-ofi and said movable rod, a cylinder, a hollow plunger rod in said cylinder and communicating'with the interior thereof, means controlling the fluid discharge through said hollow plunger rod during movement there of, and means cooperating between said plunger rod and movable rod to operate the latter during a portion of the movement of said plunger rod, substantially as described;

4. The combination with fluid conducting means and a cut-oil therefor, of a movable rod, a connecting rod between said movable rod and said cut-ofl', a cylinder, a plunger rod operating in said cylinder engaging said movable rod during said plunger rods travel, said plunger rod having a discharge orificein its upper end and having a lower open end communicating with the interior of said cylinder, means for exerting pressure in one direction on said plunger rod to move same,

and means for regulating the fluid discharge through said orifice, substantially as de scribed. J

.The combination with fluid conducting means and a cut-ofl" therefor, of a movable rod, a connecting rod between'said movable rod and said cut-ofl', a cylinder, a plunger rod 0 erating in said cylinder engaging said mova 1e rod during said plunger rods travel, said plunger rod having a discharge orifice in its upper end and having a lower open end communicating with the interior of said cylinder, means for exerting pressure in one direction on said plunger rod to move same, and means for regulating the I fluid discharge through said orifice comprising a cap closing said orifice, substantially as described.

6. The combination with fluid conducting means and a cut-off therefor, of a movable rod, a connecting rod between said movable rod and said cut-off, a cylinder, a plunger rod operating in said cylinder engaging said movable rod during said plunger rods travel, said plunger rod having a discharge orifice in its upper end and having a lower open end communicating with the interior of said cylinder, means for exerting pressure in one direction on said plunger rod to move same, and means for regulating the fluid discharge through said orifice comprising a cap provided with a cavity in alinement with said orifice, substantially as described.

7. The combination with fluid conducting means and a cut-off therefor, of a movable rod, a connecting rod between said movable rod and said cut-off, an air cylinder, a plunger rod operating in said air cylinder engag- ,ing said movable rod during said plunger rods travel, said plunger rod having a discharge orifice in its upper end and having a lower open end communicating with-the interior of said cylinder, means for exerting pressure in one direction on said plunger rod to move same, and means for regulating the discharge of air through said orifice comprising a rotatable cap rovided with an internal member of pliab e material having a cavity therein registering with said discharge orifice, substantially as described,

'8. The combination with fluid conducting means and a cut-off therefor, a cushioning cylinder, a plunger rod in said cylinder, means tending to force said plunger rod in one direction of movement, means regulating the speed of movement of said plunger rod, a movable rod provided with an extension engaging said plunger rod and movable therewith and independently thereof, a connecting rod between said movable rod and said cut-ofi', whereby when said cut-off is opened said plunger rod is forced to its set position and is automatically returned to its normal position to close said cut-oft, substantially as described.

9. The combination with fluid-conducting means and a cut-off therefor, a substantially fluid-tight cylinder, a hollow plunger rod having a discharge orifice at one end and at its other end open and provided with a plunger rod operating in said cylinder, a coll spring disposed between the head of said cylinder and said plunger rod, ad ustable means controlling the discharge of fluid in said cylinder through said discharge orifice, a movable rod having a forked end stradinitially dling the upper end of said plunger rod and operated thereby during a portion of the travel of said plunger rod, and a connecting rod between said movable rod and said cutoff, substantially as described.

10. The combination with fluid conducting-means and a cut-off therefor normally stationary when set to permit of the flow of the fluid, movable means connected to said cut-off and normally stationary when initially set, and automatically controlled means set by said movable means, said automatically-controlled means being continuously movable when set and adapted to engage said movable means and gradually close said cut-oil at a predetermined time, substantially as described.

11. The combination with fluid conducting means and a cut-01f therefor normally stationary when set to permit of the flow of the fluid, of movable controlling means connected to said cut-oil and stationary when set, and automatically controlled means adapted to be set by said movable means and continuously movable when set, said automatically controlled means coopcrating with said movable means to initially move independently of the latter and con jointly therewith during the latter portion of its travel, substantially as described.

12. The combination with fluid-conducting means and a cut-off therefor, of a cylinder, a plunger operating in said cylinder, means for operating said plunger, a movable rod exterior to said cylinder, connecting means between said rod and cut-off, connec tions between said plunger and movable rod, and means for regulating the descent of said plunger when set, substantially as described.

13. The combination with fluid conducting means and a cut-off therefor, of a movable rod, a connecting rod between said mov able rod and said cut-off, a cylinder, a plunger operating in said cylinder, engaging means between said plunger and said movable rod,means'te1iding to force said plunger rod in one direction, and means providing for and controlling the discharge of from said cylinder to regulate the speed of said'plunger when moved from the normal, substantially as described.

14. The combination of fluid conducting means and a cut-off therefor, of a movable rod, a connecting rod betweensaidcut-off andmovable-rod, a cylinder, a hollow plunger rod in said cylinder and communicating at one end with the interior thereof, means tending to force said plunger rod in one direction whenset, means controlling the discharge of air through said plunger rod during its descent, and means cooperating between said plunger rod and movable rod to assess operate the latter during a portion of the descent of said plunger rod, substantially as described.

15. The combination with a lighting fixture and a rotary cut-off theiefor, of means continuously movable when set and cooperatingwith said rotary cutoff to rotate same during a portion only of its travel, and means for regulating-the speed ofv said movable means, substantially as described.

16. The combination with an electric light fixture and a cut-off therefor, of a movable rod connected to said cut-off, a casing, a plunger operating in said casing cooperating with said movable rod, and means for regulating the fluid discharge from said casing, substantially as described.

17. The combination with an electric light fixture having a rotary key, of a movable rod connected with said key and normally stationary when initially set, and means continuously movable when set engaging said rod during a portion only of its travel, substantially as described.

18. The combination with anelectric light fixture having a rotary key, of a movable rod connected with said key and normally stationary when initially set, means continuously movable when set engaging said rod during a portion of its travel, and means for regulating the speed of said movable means, substantially as described.

19.. The combination with an electric light fixture having a rotary key, of a movable rod connected to said key and normally held stationary when said key is open, a cylinder, a plunger operating in said cylinder continuously movable when set and engaging said movable rod during a portion of its travel, and means for regulating the speed of said plunger rod, substantially as described.

20. In a fixture of the character described, a casing for the cut-off key comprising a bent metallic member open'at its adjacent ends to spring over the key, and provided with an indentation at its bent over portion, in combination with a wedge comprising a split spring member, one arm of said spring member being provided with serrations to engage the indented portion of said key casing, and the other arm of said split member being adapted to engage the key, the whole arranged to detachably secure said casing to saidkey, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof, I affix my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

PAUL DIXON.

Witnesses Z012 DAVIS, FRED W. COLE. 

